Overall, I enjoyed the game quite a bit. I think that there was a great amount of effort put into creating this jRPG and I really appreciated the intricate artwork throughout.

Assets that were highly valued in 2001—visuals, voice acting, narrative/gameplay balance—now feel tired, awkward, and expectedly dated in 2015. With that in mind, a novel battle system serves as a decent shield for Grandia II's shortcomings. Combat drives the entire experience. Everything else is just along for the ride.

For all of the faults in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, the game lives up to many of its ambitions. It is a grand challenge to not only follow but to also bring something new and exciting to the successor of the popular Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series, and the game does just that. The online multiplayer format works surpassingly well for Naruto and moving through the game’s stages beautifully conveys the feeling of exploring the anime in a way that is sure to thrill any fan of the series. If the series keeps building on the successes of this game, then there’s great hope for the future games in the Naruto/ Boruto franchise, even if Shinobi Striker is a hit-and-miss.

Overall, the multiplayer takes center stage here and what's left is a mediocre campaign at best. My recommendation is a weekend rental -- get through the campaign in a sitting or two and then spend several hours with multiplayer to see if this one is worth your gaming dollar.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adventure Pack is an awesome rhythm game with a very amazing list of songs straight from Japan! Playing as Don and Katsu in story modes adds a creative twist to the Taiko no Tatsujin series and is a great way to introduce the series to a western audience. However, without the drum, the price of the drum, and a lack of multiplayer, it may turn some new people interested in playing the series away. If you’re a long time fan of the series and want to invest in a drum or already have a drum, then you will surely love it! But, if you want to have a real Taiko no Tatsujin experience I would recommend testing out the arcade version if you get the rare chance to experience it in the west.

All in all, NBA Live 19 is a solid tip-toe towards what I think could be a great competitor in the basketball video game world. Even though The One is excellent and should be played, everything else is lacking and feels phoned-in. If EA were to put as much effort and innovation into their other modes as they did with The One, they’d have a real contender for best basketball sim out there. But please (please) change the shot meter.

Spirittea is the farming sim with Miyazaki vibes I’ve wanted for a hot minute. It doesn’t onboard the player in the most intuitive fashion, so it’s a smidge hard to pick up to get into the groove. But, once you’ve managed to parse through the disparate tea leaves that make up its multiple activities and mechanics, it’s worth a try. I’m looking forward to seeing how Spirittea evolves in the future while I enjoy its coziness this holiday season.

Overall, Chimparty is a fun PlayLink title from NapNok that gives off a nice Mario Party vibe, while not quite reaching the level design that usually comes with a Mario Party. Chimparty is a good family game, though, and a good addition to the PlayLink family.

All things considered, if you’re looking for a challenge that will keep you occupied for an evening, Shio is worth a shot.

There's a lot to like with Alice: Madness Returns, but regretfully there is more that needs work to make it even more likable. Had this had a few more months to stew in beta and the release date pushed back into the holiday season then maybe these little things (camera, AI and repetitive enemies) could have been worked out. As it is, the game is a little broken, but certainly not as severely as the main character.

It’s clear that it’s not a new game, but that it’s a remaster of a ten year old title, but nevertheless, it looks, sounds, and plays well. The more important question, as always, remains if the the story and gameplay are to your liking or not. To that end, I’m more on the reserved side of the equation, finding some value in both elements, but not enough to give this remaster a strong recommendation.

La Grange and Fireshine Games have created a unique deckbuilder featuring a fresh froggy thematic in the form of Toads of the Bayou. It might need some additional deckbuilding design depth, but it has enough to hold players over for several roguelike runs.

Final Fantasy XV's decade-long maelstrom of doubt, chaos, and suspense has somehow wrought an effective tale from the bonds of brotherhood and an engaging game from coordinated monster obliteration. The embroiled project is not sacrosanct; an incongruous plot, mechanical quest lines, and a haphazard world constitute a jet impacting the ground at dangerous speed. Pieces are everywhere, but Final Fantasy XV ultimately survives its crash landing through an impressive force of will.

Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends is a solid launch title for the 3DS, just as Nintendogs was for the DS. If you haven't yet experienced the series (which was the case for me), the game is quite enjoyable and is a great way to get some hours on your 3DS in the currently average line-up of games available. However, if you've played the original game and are expecting a new experience, you won't find it here. Just adorable puppies and cats and practically the same gameplay as the original in every way.

If Zindagi makes another quest for Edmund, I hope it's not on rails. That loss of freedom really hurt the experience, and lent significantly to the monotony. Still, I can appreciate the effort and a lot of what is offered here, and ultimately this is one of the better Move games I have played.

Spongebob Squarepants: Krusty Cook-Off – Extra Krusty Edition is a fun game that is built on a casual gaming backbone and runs well on the Nintendo Switch. While it will never reach the impressive gameplay heights of the Overcooked series, Spongebob Squarepants: Krusty Cook-Off – Extra Krusty Edition delivers fun levels, good controls, and enough reason to return to it over and over again.

NHL 25 is a good game. Don’t get me wrong. The work and progress that the team has put into this year’s release shows itself. There have been a lot of quality-of-life improvements to the in-game product that make me feel good. To me, this feels like the first time this has been as close to real as possible. There are a few things that feel out of place, but overall the improvements are there. However, I just don’t know if this is enough of a step or leap forward to justify it for the average NHL fan or game player.

Traverser is keen to demonstrate that a submission to genre norms isn't an admission of exhausted objectives. Physics puzzles, light stealth, passable platforming, and a decent run of boss fights—it's all well covered ground, but Traverser's endearing characters and engaging fiction make it easy to pass through.

It's everything you loved about Trials, just with some roughed up baggage that should have been better.

Leo's Fortune assumes an identity behind the blasé eyes of its protagonist. Leo's the kind of dude who's seen it all before, a sentiment sure to be shared by any seasoned platformer enthusiast. Still, it's an inoffensive way to kill a couple hours on a Saturday, assuming ambition doesn't get the better of you first.

A welcomed release, although it comes in with a stout price tag and is not as robust as fans would hope. Still, fighter-fans should keep an eye on it as it is a nice addition to any collection.

NBA 2K21’s current-gen version isn’t necessarily the biggest step forward the series has taken, nor should it be expected to be. The next-gen version of the game is just around the corner, where we should all expect to see the biggest changes and additions. But what’s there is still fun, even if it is more of the same. 2K’s reliance on microtransactions still feels incredibly out of place, and the game still doesn’t necessarily respect the player’s time. If you’re a fan of the series, chances are you’re already playing the game. If you’re on the fence, it may be worth waiting to see what the next-gen version offers.

The Baconing exposes DeathSpank's diminishing returns. It remains a solid, well built game, but Hothead Games doesn't seem to notice (or care) that they've essentially made the same game three times.

Patapon 3's whimsical surface seems inviting and opportunistic, but its heart remains confidently wrapped in its own minutia. With its charm spent on the previous two entries, the third is like the pizza with too many weird toppings. Patapon 3 is not quite a success, but in an age when difficulty and intricacy are often exchanged for accessibility I can certainly appreciate its mission (from afar, anyway).

Naruto fans should take notice, but others can safely pass this one up.

The majority of games featured in the NEOGEO Pocket Color Selection Vol. 2 are fun, while some fall flat. Overall, I think SNK released a solid selection of titles for volume 2 of this series with some added extra to boot, but they really do need to rethink that price point.

Super Motherload communicates a desire for players to learn its regimen while simultaneously uncovering its content. It's a neat balance, one that rewards acquired skill with valuable efficiency, at least until its disparate final act trades musing discovery for twitch reaction. "What's at the bottom" was a force that drove me to Super Motherload's completion. Learning the answer diminished a desire to return.

Devil May Cry’s appearance on Switch should be regarded as an essential installment of modern gaming history. Its genesis in Resident Evil, unconscious evolution of the beat ’em up genre, and conception of stylish-action showcase the fierce innovation demonstrated by the PlayStation 2 in 2001. In 2019, the primordial Devil May Cry may be more frustrating than fun, but what it lacks in comfort it corrects with prestige.